Native American Students to Plant Heirloom Seeds in Bumpers College Community Garden

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The Bumpers College's campus community garden is managed by the GroGreen and Horticulture clubs, and other students, with some of the food helping stock the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry.

The Native American Student Association at the U of A is partnering with the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's GroGreen Club to plant heirloom seeds in its campus community garden.

The Native American Student Association obtained heirloom seeds from the Cherokee Nation's Seed Bank at the W.W. Keeler Complex in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This will be the first time heirloom seeds will be planted on campus.

Heirlooms come from seeds handed down through generations in a certain region and are pollinated by insects or wind without human intervention.

Association President Elise Clote, an agricultural business major, said the group will be planting corn, squash, beans, gourd and others in the garden.

The garden is located in the courtyard area of the Maple Hill dorms, and is maintained by the GroGreen and Horticulture clubs, and other students. GroGreen focuses primarily on vegetables while Horticulture is mainly ornamentals.

The garden includes a 50-foot by 10-foot bed, and three 10-foot by five-foot beds. Some of the food from the community garden is used to stock the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry on campus.

If some of the food from the heirlooms cannot be eaten due to disease or other problems, it will be used for academic study, according to Clote.

The Native American Student Association plans to have a public ceremony on May 2 at the garden.